Dakota Fanning says she would be lost if she didn’t make it as a successful movie star — because she doesn’t know how to do “anything else” other than act.
The starlet says she feels her most comfortable when she’s on screen. “I’ve realized that I don’t know how to do anything else,” she said. “Acting is the only thing I feel most myself.”
Dakota also admitted she’s “really nervous” about learning how to drive. “I have my permit to drive but I am only just starting out driving,” she said. “I’m really nervous about it. I can drive along the flats now but not busy roads or the freeway. I have a long way to go before I’m brave enough for that.”
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Don’t worry Dakota you will get good at driving in no time at all. If you can drive 1% as good as you can act you will be one of the best drivers in the world. Also don’t think that all you can do is act and that it’s all you know how to do because you can do or be anything you want. Dakota you are great and you have touched my heart many times in your movies. You are so smart and such a wonderful person. Take your dreams to the next level and never believe that you cant accomplish them. I do hope that you keep your acting career as clean as possible because I always want to remember you as the sweet little girl and would hate to have that image of you tarnished. LOVE YOU DAKOTA FANNING. Me and my son (Whose name so happens to be Dakota also) hope to someday meet you. I made my e-mail address Garydakota1 after mine and my sons name. I just thought I would tell you that so you didn’t think I was some kind of obsessed weirdo.
Anxiety, anxiety! What’s with this focus on it lately? Hopefully, it’s just some form of 16itis that’ll go away at 17; also, it’s making me nervous because I admire her so much. By contrast, this article could have been about what she plans to study in college and how she sees it relating to her career; that would be very interesting.
Professionally, few people, at 16, know how to do anything at all. And, at 30, few know how to do anything else (professionally) than what they’re doing. Even so, people make career changes; it’s a challenge, but they get it done. Anyway, Dakota has had, what we adults call, smashing success, and there’s no reason whatever for her to have some negative feelings as a consequence of doing her job so well and being so committed at 16. I hope she shakes these feelings off and puts all her focus on throttling up to meet the challenges! (There’s no way that she’ll end up at “Pup ‘n Fries” or in push broom school–if that’s what she’s worried about.) I see way too much worry here for someone at 16 who has such a passion for acting and proven talent, versatility, and ability to rise to challenges. If, later on, she can’t get an adult breakout staring role, then she can worry.
If I’m reading Michael Caine correctly, Dakota’s total commitment is a good thing. Caine has much to say about acting in his 1997 book “Acting In Film” (the book is not for actors only). In particular, Dakota loves acting and it sounds like Caine’s comments about this (from the book’s introduction, xviii – xix) apply to Dakota. He sees acting as more than a part-time or full-time job; he sees it as an obsession, and, if one can imagine doing anything else, then forget trying to be an actor. From what I’ve read, Dakota and Michael Caine would pretty much agree, and she passes this Michael Caine test quite well. (What a powerhouse team-up these two pros could make on the screen!)
Now for a little rant. Let Dakota grow up!
Dakota has had to say “it’s acting.” She’s said that she likes challenges. As a movie viewer, I love the fact that when I watch a new Dakota film, I don’t know what persona I’m going to see. The Lewellen and Cherie Currie characters are certainly not as lovable to me as the Pita, Rachel, or Cassie characters, but I admire Dakota for being able to make all these roles work on the screen. None of these roles are the real Dakota and none of them hurt my view of her–indeed, they enhance my view of her. It’s the performance that counts, and not whether I like or don’t like the character. (BTW, I love her spectacular performance as Lewellen in “Hounddog.”) Dakota loves challenges and, as movie goers, we’ll reap the benefit. Those who can’t let Dakota move on from her child roles are just going to miss out, and that’s too bad–for them. Dakota is an actress; her fans must accept that fact. She couldn’t stay where she was and she can’t stay where she is. At some point, her young adult roles will come to an end just as her child roles did. I look forward to it! Even so, I’ll certainly watch the child and teen movies from time-to-time; they’re unforgettable.